Focus on teen pregnancies

THE Health Ministry in its bid to address health population through the World Population Day hopes to raise awareness on adolescent pregnancy.

Health Minister Dr Neil Sharma said this was being done in the hopes of delivering a world where every pregnancy was wanted, childbirth was safe, and every young person's potential was fulfilled.

"To mark this day, the women's wellness centre at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital organised an open day to encourage all women to come for cervical cancer screening and family planning counselling and services," Dr Sharma said in a statement.

"Apart from this, the Health Ministry has been continuing family planning services at all health facilities, including nursing station level in Fiji. These services are not for married couples only but also to young adolescent who are having relationships but wish to advance their education and have a career before having children.

"This will empower young women to achieve their ambitions in life and prevent unplanned pregnancies and unsafe abortions. There are several factors that contribute to unplanned and unwanted pregnancies in adolescence."